After the attack on Pearl Harbour (7/12/1942), Japanese forces swept swiftly down through Asia/South-East Asia. In February 1942, the Air Force (or perhaps the air arm of the Japanese Navy) bombed targets in northern Australia. The city which took the worst of this was Darwin. It suffered numerous raids over several months. This encrypted telegram was sent in this most fearful time. (From state archives of World War II papers.)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -0.5404SENT: 22 February 1942

DECYPHER to The Australian Minister,WASHINGTONNo 40. Most immediate. Most secretYour 330. For President from Prime Minister

Dear Mr President, It is heartening to us to have your message.We have known always in any crisis of this nature that the United States of America would stand with us in the way your message so eloquently indicated.

2. On our part and we hope without presumption we too have pledged ourselves to the common cause, and, as you know, our forces have fought in many distant theatres with a gallantry the world has been good enough to admire.

3. We are now, with a small population in the only white man's territory south of the equator, beset grievously. Because we have added to our contribution in manpower so much of our resources and materials, we now lack adequacy for the forces of our homeland in the defence of our own soil.

4. You have indicated an appreciation of thegravity of our responsibililties in reaching a decision on the matter referred to in your message. It has affected us profoundly. As we see the whole problem, our vital centres are in immediate danger. This is the reason and the onlyreason for the reply we have sent to Mr. Churchill, which we now quote in full for your information.